Revision Translation

Об этике в Палате Общин

Вестминстер по праву считается “матерью парламентов”. Богатая традициями работа палаты лордов и палаты общин до сих пор остается предметом особого внимания законодательных органов других стран. Наверное, во многом это оправданно. Палата общин – формально низшая, но на деле главная палата парламента. Ее состав, в отличие от палаты лордов, регулярно обновляется по итогам всеобщих выборов, ее доминирующее влияние на британскую политическую жизнь объясняется тем, что здесь утверждают все законы. Именно депутаты палаты общин составляют основу правительства страны, а само правительство формируется партией, обладающей в палате общин большинством. Премьер-министром Великобритании может стать только член палаты общин. Главная роль в организации работы парламента и соблюдении этики дебатов принадлежит спикеру. Он предоставляет право выступить тому или иному законодателю, обладает правом внесения дисциплинарных наказаний, в частности правом изгнания нарушителя дисциплины из палаты общин. Однако самое суровое наказание для британского законодателя состоит в том, что спикер называет провинившегося по имени, а не “почтенный”. Второе обращение по имени влечет лишение парламентария права присутствия в парламенте в течение 20 дней, третье – на неопределенный срок. Одна из функций спикера – устанавливать продолжительность дебатов по тому или иному вопросу. Спикер избирается из числа наиболее опытных парламентариев, которые ни разу не позволили усомниться в их моральном облике.

justified in fact is renewed to take the floor in particular “honourable” leads to to doubt, morals

Grammar section Grammar to be revised: the Sequence of Tenses. Reported Speech.

Ex. 1. Analyse the tenses in the following sentences. Pay attention to the Sequence of Tenses rule.

1. The examiner asked him if he knew the difference between a bill and an Act of Parliament.

2. It appeared that Oliver Cromwell was going to appoint himself as Lord-Protector of the Commonwealth.

3. In 1783 a lot of people in France expected the consequence of the political revolution would be a radical change of the legal system.

4. He admitted that he had no idea of the Prime Minister’s responsibilities .

5. By the end of the Tudor period it became clear that Parliament had achieved status as the law-making body.

6. While in Southern Europe in moulding the legal system was Roman Law, in England the Saxon tribes had already developed their own legal process.

7. Nobody expected that the Privy Council would decline in importance with the development of the Cabinet.

8. The speaker emphasized that no change of policy would be considered without the Cabinet sanction.

Ex. 2. Use the proper forms of the verbs. Mind the Sequence of Tenses rule.

1. The students were explained that the basic legal framework laid down in 1688 still (to remain), but its political content, and the political balance between its main elements, the Crown, the House of Lords and the House of Commons (to change) radically.

2. The teacher stressed that Oliver Cromwell (to create) a written constitution – “The Instrument of Government” – which (to be) effective only for a few years.

3. I read that constitutionalism (to be) part of the British political tradition at least since medieval times.

4. It is believed that the Magna Carta (1215) (to regard) as Britain’s closest equivalent to a written constitution as it (to be) a source of inspiration for subsequent constitutional development both in the UK and overseas.

5. The teacher said that the ancient theory of separation of powers (to try) to combat tyranny by dividing the functions of government between groups with different interests so that no power centre (to act) without cooperation with others.

6. It was interesting to know that Australia, New Zealand and Canada each (to recognize) the Crown as their Head of State.

7. We were explained that since 1688 the functions and personal powers of the monarchy gradually (to reduce).

8. The report was devoted to the English Civil War (1642–1648) which (to be) the country’s greatest internal conflict between supporters of Parliament and supporters of Charles I.

9. The reporter stated that three Parliaments (to summon) and (to dissolve) in the first four years of Charles I reign, then 11 years he (to rule) without one.

10. He informed us that since 1688 the unwritten constitution (to attempt) to adjust the economic and social changes within the broad principles which (to lay) down in 1688.

11. He stressed that the 1688 Glorious Revolution (to be) a compromise which (to design) to satisfy all the influential political and economic interests.

12. He tried to prove that the “unwritten constitution” (to have) the “virtue of flexibility” and (to permit) both evolutionary and constitutional changes.

Ex. 3. Report the following in the indirect speech using the words suggested. Mind that the sequence of tenses rule is not always applied when direct speech becomes indirect.

Statements

Model: “We study Constitutional Law this year.” (He said…)

He said that they studied Constitutional Law that year.

1. “The Constitution of Great Britain is not the source of law, but the law gives birth to the Constitution”. (The teacher explained…)

2. “The English Constitution has not been codified in any particular document”. (The teacher added…)

3. “To understand the English Constitution you will study numerous documents, including constitutional treaties like the Bill of Rights, various statutes and judicial decisions.” (The teacher stressed …)

4. “In spite of numerous duties the Queen’s powers are limited by Parliament. The British Queen reigns, but doesn’t rule”. (The teacher said…)

5. “In theory certain persons (e. g. Lord Mayor) are vested with judicial powers at trials in the Central Criminal Court, but in practice they don’t take part in judicial work there.” (He admitted …)

6. “The Prime Minister usually takes policy decisions with the agreement of the Cabinet.” (We were explained…)

7. “Each new Prime Minister may take changes in the size of the Cabinet and may create new ministries or make other changes”. (It was reported…)

8. “The Prime Minister holds Cabinet meetings at his/her house at Number 10 Downing Street not far from the Houses of Parliament.” (We knew that…)

9. “I am the Chancellor and the keeper of the King’s conscience.” (The bishop declared…).

Questions

Model 1: The teacher asked, “Did the Magna Carta establish the principle of limited government?”

The teacher asked if the Magna Carta had established the principle of limited government.

1. Has the Queen ever dissolved Parliament during her reign?

2. Does the Prime Minister change the Cabinet?

3. Was the British Constitution codified?

4. Does Britain have written or unwritten Constitution?

5. Is the Prime Minister appointed by the Queen?

6. Is judiciary an independent branch of power in Britain?

7. Is the Cabinet the central institution of the UK constitution?

8. Do England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legal systems?

Model 2: The teacher asked, “What did the Bill of Rights prevent the sovereign from?

The teacher asked what the Bill of Rights had prevented the sovereign from.

1. What kind of state is Great Britain?

2. What does the constitution reflect?

3. How long has the British Constitution evolved?

4. What principle has been adopted by most modern constitutions?

5. What is one of the reasons for having special constitutional laws?

6. Who was the principle of separation of powers developed by?

7. How many readings does a bill pass to become an Act of Parliament?

8. Where does the Prime Minister hold Cabinet meetings?

9. What are the relationships between the legislative and the executive branches of government?

10. What does the doctrine of separation of powers mean?

11. Who is Head of the judiciary in the country?

12. Where are laws interpreted and applied?